Undergraduate Role Players as “Clients” for Graduate Counseling Students

Abstract

We describe two exercises using undergraduates from abnormal psychology courses to act as role-play clients for graduate counselor–trainees. The first exercise involves mock counseling sessions; the second is a mock case conference. We grade graduates on their counseling and case-conceptualization skills. Undergraduates participate as ungraded volunteers. We believe that graduate students benefit from the challenge and honest feedback that undergraduate role players provide. Undergraduates reported academic benefits and increased empathy for the characters they played. The exercises seem to be educationally beneficial and may also help decrease undergraduates' negative stereotyping of persons with psychological problems.